MineArchiveGelli Colliery roof fall, 1903
Two repairers ripping a road at Gelli Colliery were buried on 23 April 1903 when a great rock between two smooth slips fell and crushed out their new timbers.
| Date | 23 April 1903 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Gelli Colliery |
| Region | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: Richard Williams and John Davies.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A large rock fell from between two smooth slips in the roof while the men were barring down a stone during road repairs.
What happened
On 23 April 1903 Richard Williams, 56, and his assistant John Davies were repairing and ripping a road in the Two Feet Nine seam at Gelli Colliery, Rhondda. They had put in two pairs of timber and were barring down a stone when a rock about 13 feet by 9 feet, and from 2 to 6 feet thick, fell from between two smooth slips. It crushed out the new timbers and two props and buried both men.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 23 April 1903 Richard Williams, 56, and his assistant John Davies were killed by a fall of roof while repairing a road at Gelli Colliery, Rhondda. 1,2,3
- A rock about 13 ft by 9 ft and 2 to 6 ft thick fell from between two smooth slips. 2,3
- They had put in two pairs of timber and were barring down a stone when the fall came, crushing out the new timbers and two props and burying them. 2,3
- The accident was in the Two Feet Nine seam of Cory Brothers and Co. Ltd. 2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two repairers ripping a road at Gelli Colliery were buried on 23 April 1903 when a great rock between two smooth…” - Ripping (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two repairers ripping a road at Gelli Colliery were buried on 23 April 1903 when a great…”
Sources
- (secondary) Mining fatalities, 1903 - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Accident record: Richard Williams, Gelli, 1903 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Accident record: John Davies, Gelli, 1903 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026